Heater



July 25,1933.

W. L. DECKER Filed Oct. 22, 19.30

HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ewvcnfo:

min 1. MW BB1 GUM-may.

July 25, 1933. w DECKER 1,919,204

' HEATER Filed Oct. 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WOT/44411134 I 4 affords no vents to the outer Patented July 25, 1933 TENT OFFICE WALTER L. DECKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HEATER Application filed October 2-2, 1930. Serial No. 490,433.

The present invention contemplates a selfcontained fluid-heating and heat-radiating unit which obviates the use of a separate boiler and piping connections therefor; which air and thence prevents leakage or evaporation losses of the heat-conveying fluid; which is practically insured against freezing or explosive pressures; which can be made portable or in the form of a fixture and installed in any desired place; and which may be connected up with an ordinary A. C. or D. C. light socket. A heater of this character has a high degree of utility in various places such, for example, as in places where a central heating plant is not available for supplying steam or hot water, or where the cost of installation and maintenance of such a heating plant would be too high for the mere operation of a heatradiating system. As an example may be mentioned the growing practice of installing Diesel or other types of internal combustion engines for driving ships and other vessels. Thus, the proper heating of ships of this character by means of steam or hot water would necessitate the provision of a special steamer hot water heating system with expensive boiler and piping connections. According to the present invention, proper heat ing facilities may be provided by separate self-contained heating units operated by wiring connections with the ordinary light sock-- ets of a lighting system that is already installed.

In its preferred form of an electrical heater, my invention involves no fire hazard due to I the exposure of high temperature resistance coils, no liability of explosion due to sparking in the presence of inflammable gases, and no liability to overheating.

This invention relates more especially to a heater provided with hermetically-sealed chamber within which is continuously circulated a fluid which has suitable heat-absorbing and heat-diffusing properties whereby said fluid is adapted to absorb heat from suitably disposed heating means and to deliver its heat to the walls of said chamber from which the heat is radiated. My inven tion' 'thus' contemplates a combined fluidheating and heat-radiating receptacle prefer; Ply in the form of. a single completely ed liar-tube or a plurality of said fin-tubes u ed at oppo.,.t ends by suitable headers which are provided with suitable channels which term iutercommunicating passages between said iii-tubes at theiropposite ends.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a self-contained hermetically-sealed hea er of the che acter referred to above.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved construction whereby an electrically operated heater of this character may be operated between definite predetermined temperature limits without developing undue pressure. For this purpose, 1 preferably employ a heat-conveying fluid which is substantially non-volatile below a certain predetermined maximum temperature and substantially non-freezing above a ertain predetermined minimum temperature. For this purpose, various mixtures and solutions may be employed for a heat-com veying fluid having suitable boiling and freezing points as well as a suitable specific heat. For example, a solution comprising 8. parts of ethylene glycol and 12 parts of water by volume, has a boiling point of 284; degrees Fahrenheit, a freezing point of 25 degrees Fahrenheit, and a specific heat of about .700. A similar solution or mixture comprising 70 parts of volume of ethylene glycol and parts by volume of water will have a boiling point of 239 degrees Fahrenheit, a freezing point of 48 degrees F ahrenheit, and a specific heat of .787. It will be seen therefore that a substantially non-volatile, non-freezing compound may be provided for practically any temperature range that may be desired.

In the d awings Figure l is a vertical axial section of one embodiment of my invention with the upper portion of the heater housing shown in elevation.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the heater.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of another en'ibodiment of my self-contained fluid-heating and heat-radiating unit removed from its housing.

Figure 4 is a vertical. section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, a fragmentary lower portion of the housing being shown.

Figure 5 is a detail section on the line of Figure 8.

According to the embodiment of my invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, my improved self-contained heater unit is enclosed in an outer portable housing 1 which is provided with handles 2 for facilitating its carriage from place to place. Said housing is open at the bottom and provided with suitable grilles or openings 4 in its upper side Walls for permitting a free circulation of air around the radiator as it enters at the bottom and escapes at the top. It will be understood from the following description that this housing is a. desirable part of the heater as a whole. Due to its stack effect, the airheatin capacity of the heater increases with the height of the housing so that for every inch added to the height of said housing from 20 inches to 60 inches, the heat radiating capacity will be increased approximately one per cent. Mounted within the portable housing 1 by suitable supports (not sh own on the drawings) ,is a tubular receptacle 5 which is preferably circular in cross-section and provided with heat-radiating fins or plates 6. Said tubular receptacle and fins 6 are preferably made of thin sheet metal and arranged on an inclined axis as shown in Figure 1. Hermetically sealed to the upper end of the inclined tube 5, is a coupling 7 into which is threaded one arm of an elbow 8- Threaded into the other arm of said elbow is a nipple 9 which carries a cap or housing 10 with an upwardly-presented tubular flange 11. A short tube section 12 has its upper end hermetically-sealed within the tubular flange 11 and at its depending end is sealed by a fusible plug 13 having a predetermined melting point for automatically opening the hermetically-sealed radiator to the outer atmosphere for the relief of excess pressure which might possibly arise from overheating due to some remote cause. Hermetically-sealed to the lower end of the tubular heater tube 5 is a second coupling 14 into which is threaded a screw-plug 1.5. Said screw-plug carries an immersion heating element which is connected up with an outside source of energy, said heating element being preferably in the form of an electric immersion thermal element 16 which may be of any suitable form for installation within the heater tube 5. As shown on the drawing,the thermal immersion element is in the form of an elongated U- shaped loop with its terminal branches extending throuh and hermetically sealed in a core 17 of composition material suitable for the purpose. Connecting wires 18 and 19 connect the outer terminal ends of the immersion heating element to an electric socket connection 20 which as shown in Figure 2 is provided with contact-receiving slots 21. The tubular heater is partly filled with a heat-conveying fluid 22 as shown in Figure 1, the unfilled portions of the tube and its connections forming an expansion chamber 23 wherein the hottest gases will surround the fuse plug which. will be exposed thereto and therefore constitute a. safeguard against an undue rise of pressure and at the same time prevent any destructive action on the heating, fluid such as might possibly occur under a temperature in excess of a certain predetermined temperature for the particular fluid employed. For example, the fuse plug may be constructed to melt at a temperature say of 300 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas the heating fluid may be made up to withstand. any destructive action by heat not in excess of 387 degrees Fahrenheit.

It will be understood. from the foregoing description that a suitable quantity of heating fluid having a. composition which renders it substantially non-boiling below a predetermined temperature and with a heating element immersed therein and delivering substantially constant supply of heat thereto, the housing may be suitably proportioned and arranged with respect to the heat-radiating tube to provide an automatic heat balance between internal and external temperatures without the use of current-controlling devices.

According to the embodimentof my invention shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, a plurality of fin-tubes 24 are arranged side by side and preferably on inclined axes within a common plane. Herlnetically sealed to the upper ends of said fin-tubes is a header 25 which is made hollow to provide an intercommunicating passage between the upper ends of said tintubes. Presented upwardly from the header 25 is a nipple 26 threaded at its lower end into said header, said nipple being provided with an apertured cap 27. Hermetically sealed at its upper end within the aperture of said cap is a tube section 28, the lower end thereof being sealed by a fuse plug 29 which may be of similar form and has the same function as that shown in Figure 1. Herinetically sealed to the lower ends of said fin-tubes is a bottom header 30 which is also hollowed interiorly to form an inter-communicating passage between the lower ends of said fin-tubes. Interiorly mounted in one of the fluid-heating and heat-radiating fintubes, is a U-shaped immersion heating element 31, its terminal branches being extended through and. hermetically sealed within a core 32 of composition material which fills I tube will cause an socket already in use. The upper header may be provided with (screw plug 38 for supplyingthe fln-tnbes with heating fluid. The lower header may be provided with a screw plug; 39 for draining the heating fluid from the fin-tubes.

It will be obvious "from the foregoing doscription that thearrangement of the heating element in the lower end oft fluid heating expansion of said fluid around said heating elementwith a consequent rise and flow toward the upper end of the tube. A continuous circulation of the fluid is thus maintained in such a way to dissipate the heat'oi' the heating; elcn'ieut in the surroumlingg fluid which conveys the heat by convection to the outer wall of the tubular heaterji rom whence itis radiated to the sur rounding air. This action furthermore pre vents an undue heating of the electric he: b element which is thus protected from burning out. In. the device shown in Figures 3, 4-, and 5, asimiiar circulation is continuously maintained accompanied by a descending flow'of the heatedfluid through the adjacent flirtube the 1. In a heater of the character described, the combination oi a hermetically-sealed heat-radiating tube arranged on an inclined axis, said heat-radiating tube being partly filled with a predetermined quantity of heat ing fluid, and an electric heating element imme sed in said heating; fluid for producing a. circulation of the heating fluid within said heat-radiating tube.

2. In a heater of the character described, the combination of an inclined heat-radiating tube provided with closed side walls and hermetically sealed at both ends, said heat-radiating tube being" partly filled with heating fluid and provided with an expansion space at (he upper end thereof, and an electric heating clement immersed in said heating fluid and having; a wired connection sealed in the lower end oi said heat-radiating tube.

. ln heater ot the character described, the con'ibii'iation of an inclined heat-radiatin 9; tri e provided with imperforate side walls and sealed at both ends, said heat-radiating tube being partly filled with a heating' fluid and a heating element immersed in said heatfluid and adapted to supply a substan 'tially constant quantity of heat to said heatheating fluid cools.

' inc; fluid, said heating fluid being substantially non-volatile under the substantially constant supply of heat delivered by said heating; element.

4:. In a heater of the character described, a hcrmetically-sealed fln-tube arranged on an inclined axis, said fin-tube being; partly filled with a substantially non-volatile non-freez ingheating; fluid and having an expansion chamber at its higher end, an electric heating element immersed in said heating fluid,

said heating; element having wiring connections extending through and hermeticall" sealed in the wall of said in-tube, and a fusible plug in the wall of said expansion chamber.

In a heater of the character described, combiinition with a housing, of a completely closed heat-radiating tube arranged on an inclined axis within said housing,a substantially perm a nent body of heating fluid partly filling" said heat-radiating tube, and a heating element immersed in said heating fluid. said heating element beingadapted to supply a substantially constant quantity of heat to said heatin fluid.

' 6. Vin a heater or the character described, the combination with a portable housing providcd with a wiring connection in its outer wall, of a heat-radiating tube arranged withi n aid housii' and provided with imperfeside wa. and hermetically sealed ends, substuntiall non -volatile non-freezing heating fluid, partly fillim'r said heatradiat in tube, and a si'ibstinitially constant power I heating element imn'iersed in said h nit-h1g fluid, said heating element being prowdcd with current connections extending to and from the wiring connection in the outer wall of said housing and hermetically sealed in the wall oi said heat-radiating tube.

7. ln a heater oi the character described, the combination with a portable housing, of a aled imperforate fin-tube arranged on an inclined axis within said housing, said flutube being partly filled with a permanently confined predetermined quantitv of heating fluid. an electric heating element immersed in said heating fluid and provided with wiring; connections ext-ending through the lower end of said fin-tube, and a plug connection in the outer wall of said housing to which said wiring connections are connected.

8. In a heater of the character described, an inclined imperi'orate tube for heating medium, said tube being: sealed at its upper end, a screw plug for the lower end of said inclined tube, an electric heating element having its terminals sealed in said screw plug, and a fl use-plug; in the upper end of said tube. said tube being partly fill-ed with a fluid heating niedium to provide an expansion chainliier around said 't'useplug.

9. In a heater of the character described, an imperforate heat-radiating tube arranged on an inclined axis, said tube being closed at its upper end and provided with a replaceable plug for hermetically sealing the lower end of said tube, an electric heating element having); its terminals sealed in said replaceable plug, and a fusible plug in the upper end oi said tube, said tube being partly filled with a fluid heating medium to provide an expansion chamber around said fusible plug at its upper end.

10. In a heater of the character described,

the combination of a plurality of imperforate heat-radiating tubes arranged on parallel axes in a common inclined plane, upper and lower headers respectively uniting the upper and lower ends of said heat-radiating tubes,

' the interior space within said lower header,

tubes and lower portion of said upper header being partly filled with a substantially nonvolatile nolrfreezing heat-accumulating fluid, and a heat-generating unit immersed ,in the heat-accumulating fluid at the lower end of one oi said heat-radiating tubes.

' 11. In a heater of the character described, the combination of two imperforate heatradiating tubes arranged on inclined axes, upper and. lower headers respectively connecting the upper and lower ends of said heatradiating tubes, the interior space within said headers and containers being filled with a substantially non-volatile non-freezing heating fluid up to a plane intersecting said upper header above the upper ends of said heat-radiating tubes, a heating unit immersed in the heatin fluid within the lower end of one of said heat-radiating tubes, and a fusible plug connected to said upper header above the surface of the heating fluid therein.

12. In a heater of the character described, the combination. of two imper'forate heatradiating tubes arranged on inclined axes, an

upper header hermetically sealed to the upper ends of said heat-radiating tubes, a lower header hermetically sealed to the lower ends of said heat-radiating tubes, a substantially non-volatile non-freezing heating fluid filling said bottom header, tubes and a portion of said upper header to a surface above the upper ends of said tubes, and an electrical heating unit immersed in the heating fluid at the lower end of one of said heating tubes, said electrical heating unit having a substan- -ially constant heat supplying capacity less than a predetermined maximum required for raising said heating fluid to its boiling point.

13. In a heater of the character described, the combination of two fin-tubes arranged on parallel axes in a common inclined plane, upper and lower headers respectively uniting the upper and lower ends of said fintubes, the interior space within said headers and containers being partly filled with a heating fluid having predetermined boiling and freezing points, and an electric heating coil immersed in the heating fluid at the lower end of one of said fin-tubes, said heatin g coil having a substantially constant heating capacity less than that required for heating said heating fluid to its boiling point.

VAIJER L. DECKER. 

